The Grade 1 staying chase on the opening day of the Grand National meeting is the Aintree Bowl, run over 3m1f. It is effectively Liverpool’s equivalent of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Joe Napier runs through the field to provide his selection.
GERRI COLOMBE
(Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy)
In the last seven editions of the Bowl, only one horse who completed the Gold Cup has gone on to win this race. All of Cue Card, Tea For Two and Kemboy had fallen or unseated in the Gold Cup, with the one finisher being Might Bite, though like Gerri Colombe, he had been a gallant runner-up in the Festival showpiece.
Equally, while Gold Cup form has sometimes been seen as a negative, six of the last eight winners in the Bowl have gone off favourite and there is no doubt Gordon Elliott’s charge deserves to be. He was well clear of third-placed Corach Rambler at Cheltenham and was a ready winner at this meeting having been second at Prestbury Park a year ago. He is a very worthy market leader.
SHISHKIN
(Nicky Henderson/Nico De Boinville)
Denied the chance of a crack at the Gold Cup due to Nicky Henderson’s illness-ravaged camp, Shishkin’s shot at the big time rests at Aintree this season. While he is enigmatic, it is also fair to say he has been one of the unluckier stories of the season, refusing at Ascot, unseating when stumbling between the last two fences in the King George, before his withdrawal from Cheltenham.
His ability still strongly remains, as was demonstrated at Kempton, and in this race last year when digging deep to deny Ahoy Senor. As long as he sets off (not a given), then he can be reasonably expected to be Gerri Colombe’s biggest danger.
CORBETTS CROSS
(Emmet Mullins/Mark Walsh)
Likely to be one of the more intriguing runners at Aintree throughout the three days, Corbetts Cross will be stepping out of novice company to contest an open race for the first time, and it could hardly be trickier. Emmet Mullins has pulled some rabbits out of hats in recent years, but this would be some coup.
His talent was clearly displayed when waltzing clear on the bridle in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. He scored by 17 lengths on the heavy ground that day and there is no doubt next season’s priorities will be Grade 1 staying chases. That he has been declared for one so soon is a surprise, but he could well be on the upset trail.
THE FIELD
The remaining four runners all have something to recommend them on. Bravemansgame has rarely saved his best for Aintree, though his running style, combined with his trainer’s outstanding record in this race and this meeting, suggests he can still come good here, and he ran a decent race for a long way in the Gold Cup when outstayed late on.
Ahoy Senor, on the other hand, has regularly been at his best here, enjoying the flat nature of the track from the front end. Had Shishkin not run him down late on a year ago, he would be unbeaten at the Festival and can produce a season’s best after an underwhelming sixth in the Ryanair Chase.
Gentelemangame will appreciate as much rain as possible and he may have found the Gold Cup too much of a culture shock on just his fourth run over fences. Lastly, there’s Thunder Rock, who produced a career best when winning Kelso’s Listed Premier Chase last time, though this may be a little above his grade.
VERDICT
There are usually some hesitations backing Cheltenham Gold Cup runners in Aintree’s Bowl, but GERRI COLOMBE boasts the outstanding claims. He is the pre-eminent staying chaser behind Galopin Des Champs and won hugely impressively at this meeting a year ago. Nicky Henderson’s stable form remains cloudy and so though Shishkin is the easiest to oppose the selection with on form, both Ahoy Senor and Corbetts Cross appeal more for the forecast.
- Gerri Colombe
- Ahoy Senor
- Corbetts Cross
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